Reviews roundup – King King ~ Phog ~ Peggy James ~ Bona Lisa ~ The SerVant

Reviews roundup – King King ~ Phog ~ Peggy James ~ Bona Lisa ~ The SerVant

KING KING
Maverick
Channel 9 Music

I’m so old I remember when King King were a blues rock band. But with “Exile & Grace” having begun the shift, new record “Maverick” sees them now sitting firmly in the classic rock camp. In fact, I would go further than that and say they’ve now become Thunder circa 1995.

Now that’s not a bad thing, far from it. Didn’t do a lot for Thunder mind, but I rather enjoyed their more mellow, introspective side. But if you’re the kind of person who preferred ‘Moth To A Flame’ over ‘Dirty Love’ then you’re going to like it here. Of course, it’s been all change in the King King camp since the last album with Alan Nimmo now the sole surviving original member alongside bassist Zander Greenshields, keyboards player Jonny Dyke and drummer Andrew Scott with Nimmo Brother Stevie now a member of the band as well.

And it’s a fine, fine record. Alan Nimmo seems to have put all his vocal problems behind him and is in fine voice. The guitar work is also exemplary and on the rare occasion it gets fiery, as on ‘I Will Not Fall’, it’s a rare treat. I do have to give special mention to Jonny Dyke whose keyboard fills and flourishes do a tremendous job of filling the sound out.

There are a few tracks that getting you clicking the repeat button with ‘Fire In My Soul’ a catchy, radio friendly number, while the power ballad territory is well taken care of with throwback slow blues ‘Whatever It Takes To Survive’ and the piano driven ‘By Your Side’ particularly fine. Actually, all the ballads are straight out of the top drawer so let’s not forget about ‘When My Winter Comes’.

There are some up moments that take hold as well with ‘I Will Not Fall’ and ‘Everything Will Be Alright’ the winners for me.

It’s the final step in their new direction and hopefully their fanbase will be happy to go all the way with them. It’s a damn shame that live music seems to be a thing of the past as I’m sure hearing the material live would make a huge difference. Fingers crossed the more commercial songs get some Radio 2 airplay as it would be a shame if this were to miss.

https://www.kingking.co.uk

PHOG
This World
autoproduction

So you like 70’s instrumental prog do you? Well say hello to Philippe Ogier, the PH and OG of Phog.

This is very old fashioned but in a good way. Because not many people are making this kind of prog any more. It’s very pastoral in places which is what makes so very English. Even if fact it’s French. But it’s what was the music de jour back in about 1974/75 just before Genesis became too clever for their own good and just before the Canterbury scene became too jazzy.

So it’s a real treat to hear what Phog has come up with. He’s written and performed everything by himself apart from a couple of voice appearances from one Ombeline. And when I say voice I mean voice because there are no actual vocals as such. For sure, some of the music does flow from one tune to another but there’s nothing wrong with that if you’re just looking to kick back with your headphones, close your eyes and let the rhythms take you to another place. And that’s what this does. Granted, it does make choosing highlights a wee but tricky but the opening ‘Awakening’ and the closing ‘Summer 22’ are of particular note.

It’s his third release so there’s plenty for you to catch up with. And you should.

https://phog.bandcamp.com/music

PEGGY JAMES
Paint Still Wet
Happy Growl Records

I first heard Peggy James on her “Nothing In Between” album a couple of years back. I wasn’t 100% sold. It seemed to fall between two many stools.

Was it folk, was it country, was it folk/country rock? I still don’t know. Well, Ms James is back with her fifth album and I’m glad to say she paid no attention to me and is back with more of the same. Why? Well, musicians should be zero attention to the likes of me. They’re the creative types, I’m merely a parasite living off their endeavours.

So, here she is with another set of original songs and some shit hot musicians to help her on the way including Daryl Stuermer of Genesis fame who pops in to solo on ‘San Antone’. Well he had to do something with the reunion tour being postponed. Musically, things don’t get out of second gear but there are a few excellent songs along for the ride. ‘Wiser’ has a Tex-Mex swing to it that really works as does the aforementioned ‘San Antone’, ‘Holdin’ Hands’ wonders why doesn’t anyone hold hands anymore. Well, the late Mrs H and I never stopped, It’s what I miss most. The casual day to day affection.

The whole thing is well produced and performed with ‘Scarlet And Gold’ probably my favourite. It mines a seam of pop folk gold that would sit happily on the radio.

https://www.facebook.com/PeggyJamesMusician/

BONA LISA
Give It All You Got
independent

It’s back to the eighties with Bona Lisa, the wife and husband team of Donna Milikin – vocals and Andrew Milikin – guitars, backing vocals on this mini-album.

Either it’s a very clever production that ends up sounding like a mix between “Too Fast for Love” and the Faster Pussycat debut or someone shifted all that gear off to South Carolina thirty years back.

Even the guitar solos sound straight out of the Mick Mars catalogue. I’m not complaining, mind, that’s what I grew up with. Anyway, turns out that Bona Lisa released a debut back in 2017 and decided that what the follow up needed was some bagpipes.

I’m not kidding by the way. That’s some uilleann bagpipes on ‘Lost Son’ before they decide to be Thin Lizzy for a few minutes. The title track sees them doing AC/DC and almost getting away with it. Mrs Milikin has a strong, husky voice that really suits the material and there’s plenty hear to get me rooting through the storage boxes for my old studded wristband.

There’s some cracking riffs on offer and even if it’s not going to be my first choice for an evening of weeping, drinking and remembering what it was like to be young, I certainly wouldn’t complain if it came up on the shuffle.

https://bonalisarocks.bandcamp.com/music

THE SERVANT
The SerVant
Thanato Records

Not the best name for a band, really. Even I vaguely recall the post Minty indie band. Although I’m kind of hoping they’ve named themselves after the Dirk Bogarde film. Jaysus that was a super creepy film and performance even by his standards.

Anyway, we’re off to the Canadian colonies for this one. A bit of a family band this one with assorted Falardeaus making much of the noise. Eric of that ilk is a film maker which is why they say that they’re heavily influenced by cinema. And Alice Cooper circa 1971 if ‘Peeping Tom’ is anything to go by.

There’s certainly plenty of off kilter rhythms and clanking go on here. This is a good thing by the way. I’m working on the principle that lyrically things are on the dark side bearing in mind the aforementioned ‘Peeping Tom’ and the fact that they have a grungy, Blue Oyster Cult like, 2 minute song called ‘Family Fucker’. At this point I would refer you to the father / son in the band and that Cathy of the same surname plays piano. There is some bonus Theremin from Dominique Pelletier who also seems to be responsible for some of the unearthly caterwauling that goes on. Oddly enough, the five track EP is centred by an acoustic ballad but they soon knock that out of you.

Naturally, they finish up with the blues rock rhythms of ‘Water Power’. As you do. I liked this. You might not.

https://theservant.bandcamp.com/releases

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